Aboriginal Business Accelerator Program sees first cohort of graduates

The first group of graduates from the Aboriginal Business Accelerator Program received their diplomas in Fredericton on Friday.

The program, launched by the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) as part of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Shipbuilding Engagement Strategy, isthe first of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

It'sdesigned to help Aboriginal entrepreneurs take their idea to market, or grow an existing business.

Ashley Nash, of St. Mary's First Nation, was among the graduating class of eight students."I feel very blessed because a lot of First Nations don't have access to the opportunity that I've had," she told CBC's Information MorningFrederictonon Friday.

"It was a really great opportunity to work with other entrepreneurs who are new to the game as well,and we had great mentorship and resources along the way."

Nash alreadyruns the tech companyNihiNotions, which develops software and mobile apps for companies looking to improve their productivity with the use of technology. But she says learned a lot during the 10-week course and is feeling "quite confident" about the future.

The topics coveredincluded:

• Human resource management.
• Business development.
• Financial management.
• How to raise capital.
• Project management.
• Research and development.

"It's been awesome," said Nash. "I continue to surprise myself," she said, referring to thegrowth she has experienced.

"I was always a very shy child andnever, ever imagined myself as an entrepreneur, or a businesswomanor sitting here," doing a live radio interview.

She saidshe hopes she can serve as a role model to other First Nations youth, like her younger brothers and sisters. "That's what motivates me every single day."

Opportunity to pitch to investors

Nash and her fellow graduates were also gearing up to each make a pitch to investors at a Dragons' Den-like competition following their graduation ceremony.

She was hopingto land some investment capital by featuringa mobile app she developed for a localnursing home, whichautomates its asset management and inspection compliance schedules.

As part of her pitch, Nash says she plans to donate one per cent of any profits to First Nations communities across Canada.

"When I think of success, to me it's being able to have a company that is, of course, valuable, but also socially responsible," she said.

"So a part of that would be for me to be able to give back to communities, to organizations that are near and dear to my heart."

JEDI isan Aboriginal, not-for-profit organization dedicated to working with partners to foster Aboriginal economic development in New Brunswick.

The Aboriginal Business Accelerator Program graduates were presented with their diplomas at the National Research Council of Canada buildingat the University of New Brunswick Fredericton campus.